困こん苦く欠けつ乏ぼう

noun

hardships and privations

A yojijukugo (four-character compound) describing a state of severe difficulty and lack of necessities. Formal and somewhat literary.

• 戦せん時じ中ちゅう、国こく民みんは困こん苦く欠けつ乏ぼうに耐たえ抜ぬいた。

  During the war, the people endured hardships and privations.